Exclusive Photo Coverage: Inside CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY's Gypsy Robe Ceremony!

The factory is open! The new Broadway musical Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opened just last night at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street). We're taking you inside the Gypsy Robe ceremony below!

The Gypsy Robe began in 1950, when Bill Bradley, in the chorus of GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, borrowed a dressing gown from Chorus member Florence Baum and sent it to a friend in CALL ME MADAM on opening night Oct 12, 1950 saying it was worn by all the Ziegfeld beauties and would "bless" the show. A cabbage rose from Ethel Merman's gown was added and the robe was passed along to the next Broadway musical on opening night. The tradition evolved so that the robe is now presented to the "gypsy" who has performed the most Broadway musicals on a chorus contract. Along the way, the robe is decorated, painted, patched, stitched, and signed by everyone in the show, becoming a fanciful patchwork for an entire Broadway season.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride

Christian Borle and Jack O'Brien
Joshua Bergasse and Jack O'Brien
Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman
Scott Wittman, Christian Borle, Alan H. Green and Marc Shaiman
Jack O'Brien, Scott Wittman, Christian Borle and Marc Shaiman
Emily Padgett and Christian Borle
Christian Borle
Emily Padgett
Jackie Hoffman
Cast members making their Broadway debut: Elliott Mattox, Amy Quanbeck, Yesenia Ayala, Ryan Sell, Ryan Foust and Jake Ryan Flynn
Katie Webber with Joshua Bergasse, Scott Wittman, Christian Borle, Marc Shaiman
Katie Webber with Joshua Bergasse, Scott Wittman, Christian Borle, Marc Shaiman
Jennifer Foote, Katie Webber and David Westphal
Jennifer Foote, Katie Webber and David Westphal
Katie Webber
Katie Webber
Katie Webber
Katie Webber and cast
Katie Webber
Cast and creative team
Jennifer Foote (Hello, Dolly!)
Katie Webber and Jennifer Foote
Katie Webber
Katie Webber
Katie Webber